Electroplating

Platinum group metal solutions for Electroplating

Johnson Matthey Chemical Products supplies a range of platinum group metal (pgm) solutions suitable for applying protective coatings to turbine blades found in applications such as aerospace engines and gas turbines for power generation, and in metallisation processes used in the electronics industry.

Electroplating for Aerospace

The efficiency of a gas turbine is directly related to its operating temperature. In the quest for ever greater fuel efficiency, the gases from the combustion chamber in a modern aerospace engine may enter the high pressure section of the turbine at temperatures of over 1500°C. Aluminide thermal barrier coatings are used to protect the blades from hot corrosion and oxidation.

Platinum Q Salt® is a market leading electroplating bath suitable for use in the electroplating of turbine blades used in aerospace engines and industrial gas turbines. The deposited platinum coating can be aluminised to form a platinum aluminide coating which offers excellent blade protection. The overall bath system is supplied as a plating solution and a separate replenisher to ensure the platinum content in the batch is maintained at the correct concentration.

Electroplating for Electronics

Palladium is used as an alternative plating material to gold for connectors as it has a lower density and so less weight of metal is required for a coating of similar thickness. Some manufacturers use palladium to plate the frames as an environmentally preferable alternative to tin-lead solder.

The system produces bright and adherent deposits of low stress. Platinum P SaltTM is available in the form of an aqueous slurry which is dissolved in a solution of diammonium and disodium hydrogen phosphates to provide the plating bath.

Availability

Platinum P SaltTM Aqueous Slurry is available in packs of 50 g platinum content and 100 g platinum content. Other pack sizes can be supplied as required.

BenefitsPalladium is a naturally intensely bright white metal that gives a unique lustre to decorative pieces.

Palladium is used to electroplate electronic contacts and components due to its high conductivity, hardness, strength and durability. It is more cost effective than gold and is particularly useful to prevent diffusion at copper-gold junctures and where post-plate firing is required.

This phosphate based concentrate has been specially developed for decorative applications. It will produce bright, white lustrous deposits at thicknesses below 0.5 µm. The recommended maximum thickness is 1 µm.

BenefitsThis acidic plating concentrate has been developed to produce bright, heavy and coherent platinum deposits which are totally pore free at a thickness of 0.6µm - 25µm.

ApplicationDilute to a platinum content of 5 g/l with demineralised water for general use. Where a higher platinum concentration is required, the appropriate quantity of Pt DNS solution should be added.

ReplenishmentThe platinum content of the bath should not be allowed to fall below 4 g/l, and...

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